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Detonation sensitivity of liquid nitromethane doped with methyl nitrite
Author(s) -
Engelke R.,
Earl W. L.,
Storm C. B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.19880130608
Subject(s) - nitromethane , detonation , nitrite , isomerization , chemistry , ion , photochemistry , sensitivity (control systems) , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , explosive material , catalysis , electronic engineering , nitrate , engineering
It has been suggested, by other workers, that the isomerization of normal nitromethane (NMCH 3 NO 2 ) to methyl nitrite (CH 3 ONO) is an important first step in the chemical kinetics of liquid NM detonation. We examine this idea by studying the effect of direct methyl nitrite addition on NM's detonation sensitivity. Failure diameter is used as the measure of sensitivity. A comparison is made between the effect of methyl nitrite addition and that of a known sensitizer of NM i.e., the NM aci ion (CH 2 NO 2 − ). Methyl nitrite is found to be an ineffective sensitizer relative to NM's aci ion.